Preparing big area for sod, Which attachment

[johndeerescout]

This is my first post here and if someone has already posted about this, please give me a link.

I own 14 acres and own a JD 3032E.
I have a pretty good size front yard. I ended up having to dig up and replace a gray water line, which ended up being around 200' and how they had it laid made no sense at all. I ended up getting to a good spot on the line and replacing 100' and covered it back up, but that part of the front yard is messed up. I have a little more work to do before it all is level out how I want it.

MY QUESTION: We are going to be adding sod to a very large area and wanted to know what attachment would work best for preparing the soil?

renting a small garden tiller, I believe, would take a long time because of the amount of area needing prepared.

I would love to buy a tiller for the tractor, but I do not think the wife will go for that. I do believe a tiller would work best and could also use it for small jobs for people needing someone that has a tiller.
I've been looking at a disc harrow (a good used one) and believe it would be the best attachment for the job, but just wanted to ask for advice to see if my thinking is is correct.

I also have an arena that gets weeds growing up in it and thought that a disc harrow could be used for the purpose of those down also, so buying a disc harrow would be an investment for keeping the arena looking good.

Thanks for any help and hope that I gave enough information to get my question answered.

ASh

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

They are expensive, but look up Harley Rake.

 

[4570Man]

Have you checked the price of sod? If a tiller isn’t in the cards this project might be over before it started. A rock hound on a skid steer is the ultimate tool. But serious $$. A Harley rake is the next best. A tiller with a lot of hand debris removal will get the job done. I usually use my Mule to roll the tilled areas back down. It doesn’t cause the ground compaction other equipment does but its enough to mostly prevent erosion.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a harley rake. No tool better. Some rental houses do have them. There are 3ph and SS models. Woods makes a similar rake.

 

[BrokenTrack]

When I crop rotate from corn to hayfields, I just use a plow and a log cut from the woods.

By deep plow with a land plow, it loosens the soil. Then I take the biggest, longest log I can drag through the dirt, and then grade the area.

The log pushes the rocks into the soft soil, but also compacts and smooths the surface of the land. The longer the log, the smoother the field because it cuts and bridges holes and such. Just keep dragging it over the area many times and it will get more and more smooth, picking out the rocks each time you go over it.

I used a skidder to pull my logs in doing this particular field, but it is whatever your tractor can handle.

 

[Diggin It]

I own 14 acres and own a JD 3032E.


renting a small garden tiller, I believe, would take a long time because of the amount of area needing prepared.

I would love to buy a tiller for the tractor, but I do not think the wife will go for that. I do believe a tiller would work best and could also use it for small jobs for people needing someone that has a tiller.

Specs show that tractor with a 58 width, so you'd need a 60" tiller at a minimum. No idea what rentals might cost but a good quality rear tine walk behind tiller could run close to a grand. A 60" 3 point tiller might be close to double that, but could be somewhat less on sales and coupons/promos. That plus a landscape rake will do most of the job with far less aggravation than a walk behind.

And then there's always the possibility of hiring out some work to neighbors to help pay for the toys ... err, tools.

 

[Egon]

Will a tiller work for the arena area?

Any thoughts of seeding instead of sod?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

You could kill everything, then disk it up fine. And then plant Bermuda seed. Get good seed from a respected seed company.

Bermuda is better IMO because you can put different weed killers on it and it will survive.

 

[jaydee325]

Preparing the dirt for sod or seed is just the first problem. Next is how are you going to keep the wide area watered? I googled how much water is required to start a sodded lawn and got that you need to water 3 to 5 times a day during the first 7 to 14 days and for a seeded lawn, only slightly less.

You also should get some soil analysis done to determine if the soil needs any remediation too.

Exact requirements will vary for location which you did not provide. Your county extension service is a good source of information and may even provide soil analysis service.

If you can't water the whole area that much, you are wasting your money on materials. Maybe consider starting with a smaller, more manageable area near the house first and work your way out as you get established.

 

[Tomtint]

Harley rake on a skidsteer ...game over.